Means for producing fire-extinguishing foam



Nov. 5, 1929. L. FABER MEANS FOR PRODUC-ING FIRE EXTINGUISHING FOAMFiled March 2, 1927 ATTORNEY LPatented Nov. 5, 1929 LEON FABER, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGrNOR, BY MESNE `.ASSIGN- MENTS, TNATIONAL FOAM SYSTEM- INC., 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE MEANS FOR PRODUCING FIRE-EXTINGUISHING' FOAMApplication led March 2, 1927. Serial No. 171,987.

In the production of such foam dierentA substances may be employed whichwhen brought together invsolution in` water react to produce a foamwhich, when applied to a tire by spraying or otherwise, operates to eX-tinguish the same. Substances quite generally used for the generation ofire extin- .gulshing' foamare aluminum sulphate and bicarbonate of sodatogether with a stabilizing substance, in powdered form. The stapbilizing substance mayconsist of extract of l5 licorice root, oak barkor other material known to be usable forthat purpose. The effect ofthese stabilizing substances upon the foam iswell understood in the art.

The general object ofthe present invention is to provide a novelconstruction of means whereby the foam vproducing substancesim powderedform may be introduced separately into a flowing stream of water whereinthey are dissolved and after having beendissolved react to produce afire extinguishing foam.v

To these and other ends the invention comprehends the construction asillustrated and such modifications thereof as may be made within thescope ofthe claims.

In order that the invention may be readily understood reference shouldbe had to the accompanying drawing` in which is shownl a form ofconstruction embodying the4 inven` tion which is at present preferred byme.

In thedrawing Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly linlongitudinal section of a pipe through which a stream of water may Howand showing alsoin vertical longitudinal section the containers forholding the foam producing substances to be introduced into the saidpipe.

I Fig. 2 isa view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l showing the valve forcontrolling the openings from the containers into the pipe or a sectionthereof in open position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view but showing the 50 valve in closed position;and

threaded engagement with the screw threads l 2 as is shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawing. The section 1 and the pipes 3 and 4 are in alinement witheach other. The valve casing 1 is provided with holes located incontiguous relation to each other through which powdered materialmay bedischarged from the containers. The said casing 1 is also provided witha lateral tubular projection 7 which is divided by means of a partition8 into two passageways 9 and 10. Both of these passageways are incommunication through the holes 5 and 6 with the interior of the casing1, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The outer end of the hollow ortubular pro` jection 7 is provided with a laterally extend- Y ing flange11 to which the ange 12 at the lower reduced end of a container 13'isconnected by means of bolts 14 and wing nuts 15. The container 13 isdivided by means of a central partition 16 into two chambers 17 and 18,into one of which -17 aluminum sulphate may beplaced and into the otherone of which bicarbonate of soda may be placed, both in powdered form.Thestabilizing substance, also in powdered form should be placed in oneor the other of these chambers, or a portion of said stabilizingsubstance may be g5 placed in one chamber and a portion in thel other.The assageways 9 and 10 constitute in effect the bottom portions of thechambers 17 and 18. l A

, It will be yassumed that the water iows 9o through the passageway ofthe tube 3, casing 1, and tube 4t in the direction of the arrows 20thereon.

A nozzle 21 is mounted within the casing 1 near its left hand end asshown in Fig. 1. The outer end oi the said nozzle is in the form of ahead which is provided with external screw threads which areinengagement with the screw threads 2 to which reference has been madepreviously. iIhe outer end of the 100 nozzle 21 preferably is in contactwith the inner end of the pipe 3 as shown. The opening through thenozzle 21 is tapered as indicated at 22. The nozzle discharges yinto atubular valve section 23 rotatably mounted within the valve casing 1.The left hand end of the rotatable tubular valve section 23 is locatedin contact with the shoulder formed by.

the inner end of the head of the nozzle 21. The opposite end of thetubular section 23 is in abutting relation to an internal adjustablesleeve 25 within the right hand end of the valve casing 1. The left handor inner end of the pipe 4 also is lin abutting relation to the oppositeedge of the sleeve 25. The rotatable tubular valve section 23 isprovided with openings 26 and 27 located near to each other as shown inFig. 1, which openings are adapted to register respectively with' thelower ends of the passageways 9 and 10 of the projection 7 previouslyreferred to. It is necessary when the rotatable tubular valve section 23is in open position that the `openings 26 .and 27 thereof shall registerwith the lower or adjoining ends of the vpassageways 9 and 10 throughthe hollow or tubular projection 7 previously referred to. In order toinsure such registration the nozzle 21 and the sleeve 25 may be adjustedwithin the valve casing 1 into positions to hold the rotatable tubularvalve section 23 lin such position that when opened the holes 26 and 27will register exactly with vthe lower ends of the passageways 9 and 10.

For the purpose of rotating the tubular valve member or section 23 intoopen or closed position I have provided a handle 30 the inner end ofwhich is connected'with the member 23. The said handle projects throughthe slot 31 in the casing 1. In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing the tubularvalve member or section 23 yis shown in open l position while in Figs. 3and 4 it is shown in closed position. In the latter position neither ofthe foam producing substances may or canA be discharged from thechambers 17 and 18. But upon turning the rotatable tubular valve memberor section 23 into the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing the holes26 and 27 are moved into registration with the lower end of 'thepassageways 9 and 10 whereupon any foam producing substances which maybe present in proper form, such as apowder, in the chambers 17 and 18are free to be discharged into the passageway through the tubularsection 23 rotatablymouiited within the valve casing 21. As a matter offact the tubular section 23 constitutes in effect a part of the plipes 3and 4.

T e water flows through the passageway of the pipes under pressure.Acceleration of the ilow is caused by the tapering passageway 22 throughthe nozzle 21, in known manner, as a result of which a partial vacuum iscreated wi thin the rotatable tubular valve`23, particularly within thatportion thereof adjoining the inner end of the nozzle 21 opposite theopenings 26 and 27. The creation of a partial vacuum within the tubularsection23, and particularly within the region thereof as stated, causesthe foam producing materials in powdered form to flow or to bedischarged from the chambers 17 and 18 into the tubular valve section 23and into the stream of water flowing therethrough. The ilow of the saidpowdered foam producing substances through the Ipassageways 9 and 10 andopenings 26 and27 into the tubular valve section 23 is due to thecombined forces of gravity (if the containerl 13 occupies a verticalposition as shown) and to the excess of the external pressure of theatmosphere over'the pressure within the said tubular valve section 23.

rIhe pressure of the waterwithin the pipes may be indicated by apressure gage as indicated at 32.

In order to prevent a back flow of the water or foam from the pipe 4 Ihave provided a check valve 33 of usual construction which is located inthe pipe 4 at a point near its connection with the valve casing 1, asshown in Fig. lof the drawing.

A construction., of the character of that indicated permits thestorageof the foam pro-A the-necessary quantity of stabilizing materialas above indicated, whereafter the Atubular valve section 23 is movedinto open position whereupon if a stream of water is flowing through thepassageway therethrough the-materials are drawn into the ltubularsection 23 wherein and possibly therebeyond they enter into solution andreact to produce a foam under such pressure that it may be sprayed ontoa lire to effect extinguishment thereof.

The flow of the water through the passageways o f the pipes 3 and 4 iscontrolled by means of a valve at 34 of any known construction. Havingthus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Pat.

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casing whereby the fiow of water through the said casing causes the saidsubstances to ilow through thc said openings and into the str! ani ofwater llowing through the said tubular passageway, the said substancesbeing dissolved in the said stream of water and after dissolutionreacting to produce foam and amovable valve member located r.within thesaid Valve casing foropening and closing the said openings through thelatter.

2. In means for producing fire extinguishing foam, the combinationof atubular passageway through which water may flow, cony tainers forholding powdered substances, whlch contamers are 1n communlcatlonthrough separate passageways with the saidv tubular passageway, meanswithin the said tubular passageway in cooperative relation to thepassageways leading from the said container into the said tubularpassageway whereby the vflow of'water through the said tubularpassageway causes the said powdered substances to flow through theopenings from thevsaid containersinto a stream 0f`water flowing throughthe said tubular passageway, which substances react after dissolution inthe said stream to produce fire extinguishing foam, and a movable valvemember located in the said tubular passageway in cooperative relation tothe said separate passageways for opening and closing the latter.

3. In means for producing fire extinguishing foam, a combination of atubular passageway through which water is adapted to flow,

containers adapted to hold powdered substances, from which containersseparate passageways lead into the said tubular passageway, a valvemember located within said tubular passageway in cooperative relation tothe passageway leading from the said containers into the said tubularpassageway whereby the said passageways from the said containers may beopened and closed, and means included within the said-tubular passagewayand located in cooperative relation to the juncture of the saidpassageway leading from` the said containerswith the said tubularpassageway whereby the iow of water through the said tubular passagewaycauses the powdered substances in said containersito flow through thepassageways leading from the ysaid containers Vinto the saidtubularpasageway, which substances' upon dissolution inthe said streamof water react to produce a foam. v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereuntosigned 'my name this 28th day of February, A. D. 1927.

` ..LEON FABER.

